Trip planning: Ko Samui

Getting to Ko Samui

Finding our base

Planning your cruise

Provisioning

Arrival and departure

Getting to Ko Samui

Ko Samui is located approx 800kms south of Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand and although it can be reached by car ferry from the mainland the Island is best reached by air as the island does have an airport. Bangkok Airways operates several flights per day to and from Bangkok International airport and from other airports in Thailand including Pattaya and Phuket along with some direct flights from other counties.

Getting to the Gulf Charters Ko Samui base.

The Gulf Charters Thailand base in Samui is located in the quaint yet vibrant fishing village of Bo Put, located on the north end of the island facing Koh Phangan and is easily reached by taxi from anywhere on the island. There is no marina at Ko Samui so we operate from the Bo Put beach with the yachts on moorings. Your Charter Coordinator will give you specific instructions on how and when to meet and our staff will handle the loading of your provisions and belongings.

Planning your cruise

Be sure to check out our cursing area page for extensive cruising information, but for planning your arrival and departure the following information may be useful.

Provisioning

There are several ways to stock your yacht with all things you might like to have on board and given the importance of this topic we have created a dedicate page to assist you with this task.

For planning purposes keep in mind that most of the anchorages on the nearer islands of Koh Phangan and Ko Tao, have resorts and restaurants serving up the very best that Thai cuisine has to offer. However, if you are planning to visit the Ang Thong Marine park there is just one restaurant which is located at the marine park head quarters so you will need to stock up for that part of your voyage.

Ko Samui has several international supermarkets where you can find pretty much everything you might like, but if you plan to do the provisioning yourself you will need to allow at least a half a day if you plan to do this after you have arrived at our base. Depending on arrival times we can sometimes arrange for the transfer to our base to take a detour so you can provision on the way.

Arriving

When you arrive at our base we will meet you at your taxi and assist with your baggage and loading of your yacht. If you have purchased your provisions along the way allow approximately 1 hour to get everything stowed away and ship shape. The refrigerator will be chilled and there will be drinking ice aboard when you arrive.

Briefing, formalities and payment.

Your Charter Coordinator will conduct your yacht and area briefing; generally this will take around 2 hours. You will be required to sign off your charter contract and to fill in the credit card release for the security deposit. If you have used the Gulf Charters provisioning service then you’ll need to pay for the provisions with cash before you depart, note that Gulf Charters does not have a credit card facility at the base.

Getting under way

To reach the first anchorage you will need at least 2 hours, which means you really need to have completed everything dockside by 3:30pm to be able to leave the dock and make it to anchor before sunset.

Staying on the mooring

If you are unable to conclude the dockside formalities in time to get under way you may sleep aboard your yacht at the mooring or take a room ashore and while the Gulf Charters team keeps an eye on your yacht. The fishing village of Bo Put is an area known for some of the islands best restaurants and quaint boutique accommodations and is a delightful place to spend an evening.

Returning and departure

When you return to the base at the end of your charter your Charter Coordinator will meet you for the debriefing, this generally takes a half hour or so. The Gulf Charters Thailand staff will refuel the yacht and you will be required to pay for the fuel you have used in cash, amounts generally run at between 2000 to 3000 baht depending on the yacht and duration of your charter, they will also assist you with you baggage and see you off to your taxi.